Chief Judge of the 21st Judicial District Brian Flynn on Dec. 11 swore in seven new volunteers as Court Appointed Special Advocates in Mesa County.

The volunteers are Steve Driscoll, Terri Driscoll, Vicki Kallman, Erica Satie, Jade Diaz, Julia K. and Melinda L.

CASA of Mesa County trains and supports dedicated community members to advocate for the best interests of children who have been abused or neglected. CASA volunteers serve as the voice of the child in court, monitoring the child’s case and reporting back to the judge on the child’s well-being and the status of their case.

“Volunteers are Employment the heart and soul of CASA, and these individuals have made an extraordinary commitment to serve as advocates for vulnerable children in Mesa County,” said Joy Thompson, executive director for CASA. “Currently, we are serving 160 abused children, yet more children are added to our waiting list regularly. These new volunteers are a much-welcomed addition, and their efforts will help us ensure that every child-abuse victim has a voice.”

The new volunteer advocates participated in a 30-hour training program before being sworn in. They will be assigned to a child in the foster-care system and will receive continued on-the-job training and coaching as they take on their first cases.

For those interested in becoming a CASA advocate, more information is available during volunteer-information sessions. The next session will be a hybrid session and take place Jan. 6, 2025, at 12:15 p.m.  For more information and to register, go online to www.casamc.org/info-sessions.